Grand Cities Woman Volume 5, Issue 1

COMPLIMENTARY

Volume 5, Issue 1 February 2016

Andrea Volk FIND YOUR VOICE

Distributed by Girl on Fire Publishing at the following locations:

If you would like to provide Grand Cities Woman to your clients or customers, please contact us by phone at 701-261-2692 or by email at grandcitieswoman@live.com.

MAIN DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS: Hugo’s Supermarkets Hornbacher’s River Cinema HOTELS: Holiday Inn Express Lakeview Inn and Suites Days Inn Comfort Inn Road King Inn Quality Inn C’mon Inn Settle Inn Howard Johnson Ramada America’s Best Value Inn Super 8 Econo Lodge Canad Inns Sleep Inn Springhill Suites by Marriot Country Inn & Suites AmericInn Knights Inn and Suites Staybridge Red Roof Hampton Inn My Place Select Inn Expressway LaQuinta RETAIL LOCATIONS: Grand Cities Mall Tim Hortons Dakota Harvest SERVICE PROVIDERS: Altru Waiting Areas Grand Forks International Airport Choice Fitness Snap Fitness Curves University of North Dakota Student Union

COMPLIMENTARY

Volume 5, Issue 1 February 2016

Andrea Volk FIND YOUR VOICE Andrea Volk

On the Cover

Photo submitted courtesy of SB Photography

2

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

Event Calendar

Save the Date Please call ahead to confirm events. Promote your May, June, and July community events by sending information to grandcitieswoman@live.com or by calling 701-261-2692 by April 15, 2016. Listing events in our calendar is free for community event organizers and current advertisers.

Open All Year Nelson County Barn Quilt Trail The quilt trail is a series of 40+ barn quilts that are hung along a highway or country road. A barn quilt is an 8 X 8 or 4X 4 foot section of quality plywood painted with a quilt block pattern. These quilts are then hung on barns and other buildings for people to view. A map for this self-guided, 40-mile driving tour can be found and printed from www.michigannd.com.

February 18 Free Sleep Apnea Screening 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Altru Specialty Center Altru’s Sleep Center will hold a free sleep apnea screening at Altru Specialty Center.

No appointment is necessary. If you have questions, please call 701-780-5484 or go to www.altru.org/sleepcenter.

February 22 Help for the Healing Shoulder | Total Shoulder Replacement 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Altru Professional Center Learn about options available through Altru Advanced Orthopedics to alleviate pain and get you back to the life you enjoy. Altru orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Darin Leetun, will be on hand to discuss options and solutions. All presentations are available in Altru Professional Center, Conference Room.

February 23 Prevention 202 | Living the Full Life 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Sanny & Jerry Ryan Center for Prevention & Genetics Topics covered will include: excess weight and potential health risks, osteoporosis prevention, cancer prevention, and balance and fall prevention. Free blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnea, and glucose screenings will be available 30 minutes prior to and following the presentation. For more information, call 701-732-7620 or go to www.altru.org/prevention.

March 6 Alive at 25: Defensive Driving for Teens 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Altru Psychiatry Center 860 S Columbia Road, Grand Forks You could be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completing the course. Please consult your insurance agent for details. Register online: www. ndsc.org or call 701-223-6372 or 800-9328890.

Mondays Vascular Screenings Sanny & Jerry Ryan Center for Prevention & Genetics Stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysm are non-cardiacrelated vascular diseases. Early screening can help prevent life-threatening conditions or long-term disabilities. Anyone over age 50 should be screened. If you are under 50 with any other risk factors, you should also be screened. Vascular Screenings ($50) are offered at the Sanny & Jerry Ryan Center for Prevention & Genetics on Mondays. To learn more or schedule an appointment, go to www.altru.org/heart or call 701-732-7620.

March 8 We had a baby! What do we eat?

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Altru Hospital This class will briefly cover proper nutrition for mom and baby during the breastfeeding and formula stage, and will then discuss the when, why, what, and hows of giving your baby solid foods. With a few simple guidelines, you will be able to feed your child what he or she needs to help promote proper growth and development.

This class helps answer questions about introducing solids to your baby and offers tips on healthy nutrition for the whole family. To learn more, go to www.altru.org/ calendar or call 701-780-5179.

March 10 Let’s Talk Type 2 Diabetes 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Altru Rehabilitation Center Patients with type 2 diabetes are encouraged to attend this provider-led discussion.

Sessions are held the second Thursday of March, September, and December. Register online at www.altru.org/calendar or call Altru’s Diabetes Center at 701-780-1838.

March 17 and 18 Art Fair and Linen Sale Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Altru Hospital Lower Level, Rooms A-D 1200 S. Columbia Road Grand Forks, ND Profits for this Altru Alliance fundraiser are used to fund such charities as Home Delivered Meals, Safe Kids Car Seats, and scholarships for Northland Community and Technical College, to name a few.

March 17 Free Sleep Apnea Screening 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Altru Specialty Center Altru’s Sleep Center will hold a free sleep apnea screening at Altru Specialty Center.

No appointment is necessary. If you have questions, please call 701-780-5484 or go to www.altru.org/sleepcenter.

March 19 AARP Smart Driver Class 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Altru Psychiatry Center 860 S Columbia Road, Grand Forks AARP Members: $15 Non-Members: $20 You could be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completing the course. Please consult your insurance agent for details.

AARP membership is not required to take the course and there are no tests to pass the course. For information, please call 701-7805939 March 21 Help for the Hurting Knee | Partial Knee Replacement 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Altru Professional Center Learn about options available through Altru Advanced Orthopedics to alleviate pain and get you back to the life you enjoy. Altru orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Darin Leetun, will be on hand to discuss options and solutions. All

presentations are available in Altru Professional Center, Conference Room.

March 22 Alert! Day 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Altru Main Clinic Free blood sugar screenings available. For more information, please contact Altru’s Diabetes Center at 701-780-1838 or go to www. diabetes@altru.org.

March 24 Altru’s Rehab Autism Diagnostic Clinic 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Altru Rehabilitation Center Early detection leads to effective treatment.

Parents who have concerns about a child’s development have access to an autism diagnostic clinic. This clinic is provided at no cost to the family and is made possible by donor gifts to Altru Health Foundation.

Please contact Tiffani at 701-780-2481 for more information and appointments.

March 22 Medication Take Back Day 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Altru Psychiatry Center Altru Health System and the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department are hosting a drive up, drop off Medication Take Back Day. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, and medications left in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. You can properly dispose of all medications during this free drug take-back event. Bring in your controlled, non-controlled, over the counter, and expired substances. Help keep our community safe. For more information on drug disposal, go to www.altru.org/drugdisposal.

April 9 Gardening Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND This event is sponsored by the NDSU Extension Service and Grand Forks Horticultural Society. This year’s featured speaker is acclaimed lecturer, garden designer, award winning author, and photographer, C. Colston Burrell. Mr. Burrell will give two presentations. In addition, there will be three breakout sessions, each having nine programs. Topics include: Perennials, Monarch Butterflies, Backyard Beekeeping, Diseases of Apples and Crabapples, Attracting Birds to Your Garden, Winemaking for Hobbyists, How to Grow Great Grass, Garden Invaders, girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

3

Publisher Girl on Fire Publishing Managing Editor/Ad Sales Autumn Graber (701) 261-2692 grandcitieswoman@live.com

Advertising Sales Mary Glessner

(701) 330-3150 gcwmagazine@gmail.com

Copy Editor MariLou Harveland Design/Layout Autumn Graber CFO Kelly Graber Business Development Kaelyn Teigen Mail correspondence to: Grand Cities Woman PO Box 5503 Grand Forks, ND 58206 Connect with us! grandcitieswoman@live.com www.girlonfireonline.com www.facebook.com/grandcitieswoman www.twitter.com/gcitieswoman Messages sent to us by email, Twitter, or Facebook might be used in future issues of Grand Cities Woman.

Printed in North Dakota. © 2016 Girl on Fire Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Grand Cities Woman Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Grand Cities Woman Magazine does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented.

This magazine is printed on an environmentally certified paper that contains a 10% post-consumer waste. FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) is an international, non-profit association that promotes well-managed forests by ensuring forestry practices that are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.

If you would like to become a contributor to Grand Cities Woman, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area.

Getting Started with Mushrooms, Better Soil for Better Gardens, Roses, Pollinator Gardens, Lily Species and Breeding, New Trees and Shrubs, Edibles as Ornamentals, Espalier, and Annuals. Many experts will be present to cover the numerous topics. The $40.00 registration fee covers all of the day’s events including the educational programs, book signing, gardening vendors, breaks, lunch, door prizes, a free perennial, and lots of great gardening camaraderie. For more information, go to www.gardeningsaturday. info or call the NDSU Extension Service at 701-780-8229.

April 9 Safe Kids Day 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Century Elementary School Join Safe Kids Grand Forks to learn more about keeping your kids safe. They will have interactive booths set up with lots of information and prizes to take home.

April 9 Defensive Driving Class 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Altru Psychiatry Center 860 S Columbia Road, Grand Forks You could be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completing the course. Please consult your insurance agent for details. Register online: www. ndsc.org or call 701-223-6372 or 800932-8890.

April 15 Final day to receive $5 off the Run for Your Buns registration Run for Your Buns is a 5K run/walk on June 11 benefitting colon cancer. Net proceeds will be donated to Altru Health Foundation to help uninsured and underinsured individuals pay for screening colonoscopies. Colonoscopy is the best line of defense in reducing risk of colon cancer. For more information or to register, go to www.altru.org/runforyourbuns. To receive $5 off registration through April 15, 2016, use coupon code: EARLYBIRD2016.

April 16 Spin for Kids 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Red River High School Altru Health System’s Spin for Kids is an indoor bike relay race on stationary spin

4

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

bikes. Teams of riders raise money for children with special needs to help ease the financial burden these families often face. This year, Spin for Kids will have three divisions: Elite, Amateur, and Kids.

Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. on February 24, 2016 at Altru’s Medical Fitness Center and closes when all bikes are full.

When your team registers, the team captain or a designated team member must pick up a race packet at Altru’s Medical Fitness Center, located on the main level of Altru Rehabilitation Center. Register early! Bike numbers are limited. For questions regarding registration, please call 701-780-2538.

April 21 Free Sleep Apnea Screening 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Altru Specialty Center Altru’s Sleep Center will hold a free sleep apnea screening at Altru Specialty Center.

No appointment is necessary. If you have questions, please call 701-780-5484 or go to www.altru.org/sleepcenter.

May 2 Skin Screening 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sanford Dermatology East Grand Forks Clinic May is Skin Cancer Awareness month. To schedule a free skin screening call 218773-5900.

May 2 Help for the Hurting Shoulder | Rotator Cuff Repair 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Altru Professional Center Learn about options available through Altru Advanced Orthopedics to alleviate pain and get you back to the life you enjoy. Altru orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Darin Leetun, will be on hand to discuss options and solutions. All presentations are available in Altru Professional Center, Conference Room.

May 5 Altru’s Rehab Autism Diagnostic Clinic 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Altru Rehabilitation Center Early detection leads to effective treatment. Parents who have concerns about a child’s development have access to an autism diagnostic clinic. This clinic is

provided at no cost to the family and is made possible by donor gifts to Altru Health Foundation. Please contact Tiffani at 701780-2481 for more information and appointments.

May 5 Medication Take Back Day 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Altru Psychiatry Center Altru Health System and the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department are hosting a drive up, drop off Medication Take Back Day. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, and medications left in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

You can properly dispose of all medications during this free drug take-back event. Bring in your controlled, non-controlled, over the counter, and expired substances. Help keep our community safe. For more information on drug disposal, go to www. altru.org/drugdisposal.

May 10 Free Skin Cancer Screening 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Truyu on DeMers During National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Truyu Aesthetic Center and Altru Cancer Center will offer free skin cancer screenings. To make an appointment, call 701-780-5400.

May 14 Truyu Spring Event 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Truyu Aesthetic Center May 19 and May 20 Jewelry Sale – Fundraiser for Altru Alliance Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Altru Hospital Lower Level, Rooms A-D 1200 S. Columbia Road Grand Forks, ND Profits for this Altru Alliance fundraiser are used to fund such charities as Home Delivered Meals, Safe Kids Car Seats, and scholarships for Northland Community and Technical College, to name a few.

May 19 Free Sleep Apnea Screening 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Altru Specialty Center Altru’s Sleep Center will hold a free sleep apnea screening at Altru Specialty Center. No appointment is necessary. If you have questions, please call 701-780-5484 or go to www.altru.org/ sleepcenter.

Cheerful Givers Birthday bags for children less fortunate Call

701-795-4772

for presentations or information on making a donation.

Bags distributed through the local food pantries.

cheerfulgiversnd@gra.midco.net

www.cheerfulgivers.org girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

5

Lifetime Vision Center

Readers that stick to back of your phone.

Hot new item and great stocking stuffer.

1.5-2.50 strength. ByThin Optics $22 available at Lifetime Vision Center. See their ad on page 9.

Truyu at Choice

NovaLash eyelash extensions are an “instant pretty” for any woman who desires longer, fuller lashes. These extensions are meticulously applied lash-by-lash, bonded with awardwinning medical-grade adhesives, by certified professional NovaLash stylists. NovaLash eyelash extensions are available at Truyu at Choice Health & Fitnes. See their ad on page 15.

Riddle’s Jewelry

This ladies mocha and white diamond necklace would be a perfect gift for that special mother in your life on Mother’s Day. See their ad on page 11 for more information.

Hot Spots to Shop PRODUCTS FROM AREA MERCHANTS

Find these items and more through local retailers. When purchasing an item that you’ve seen in our shopping guide, make sure you tell them that you saw it in Grand Cities Woman.

Claims that products make in the Grand Cities Woman Shopping Guide are of product manufactures’ and not of Grand Cities Woman or Girl on Fire Publishing.

Lifetime Vision Center

Vera Bradley Eyewear is now exclusively available at Lifetime Vision Center. See their ad on page 9.

Riddle’s Jewelry Since 1959, our family’s love for their customers has carried on through the generations as we have grown across the Midwest. Find this ladies treated cognac and diamond ring set in 10k pink gold at Riddle’s Jewelry.

See their ad on page 11 for more information.

Simply Maid

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8! Treat your mom with a gift certificate to Simply Maid because she deserves it. See their ad on page 7 for more information.

Truyu at Choice

A multi-tasking genius that combines skincare benefits and naturally radiant coverage in one. This product is a must for your summer make-up routine, as it includes a broad spectrum SPF 30 to protect skin from UV damage and premature aging. Available at Truyu at Choice Health & Fitness. See their ad on page 15.

6

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

It Takes a Team...

Autumn Graber // Publisher

Autumn graduated from Minnesota State University – Moorhead (MSUM) with a BS in Mass Communication emphasizing journalism. She was the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year, an award given by the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals and University of North Dakota Center for Innovation. Autumn is a 2009 graduate of The Chamber Leadership Program. She was elected and served six years on the Board of Directors for the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota (AAF-ND). Autumn enjoyed a successful term as president of AAF-ND, helping them win the “Club of the Year” award for District 8 at the national convention in 2010, competing against all clubs from South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Autumn and her family relocated to Grand Forks shortly after launching Grand Cities Woman in March of 2012. Autumn and her husband, Kelly, who is an agriculture equipment salesman for Butler Machinery, live in Grand Forks with their two young children, Aiden and Zachary.

Mary Glessner // Advertising Sales

Mary Glessner grew up in North Dakota and graduated from Mayville State University. She has been with Girl on Fire Publishing since March of 2012 and employed with the North Dakota University System for twenty-four years. After relocating to Grand Forks and accepting a job at UND, she decided to start Cheerful Givers, ND because of her passion for helping others.

Mary is a board member and volunteer for the Sunshine Memorial Foundation. She enjoys the community in which she lives and is currently volunteering on the Sunshine Hospitality House Executive Committee to bring the proposed Sunshine Hospitality Home to fruition in Grand Forks.

We understand your home is unique.

This means your cleaning services should be unique as well.

20% OFF Some restrictions apply. Offer subject to change.

Limit one offer per household. Cannot be used with existing service plans. Expires June 30, 2016.

701-765-3069 gosimplymaid.com /SimplyMaid

WIG STUDIO & HAIR SALON

MariLou Harveland // Copy Editor

MariLou is a freelance editor since 2001, when she began editing technical manuals, collaborating on a style guide for writers, and training new writers for Microsoft. During this time, she also earned a Master of Arts in English from NDSU, where she also taught College Composition I and II. In 2011, MariLou published her first novel, “The Seventh Soul,” which won the 2012 Indie Reader Award in Paranormal Fiction at the International Book Expo in New York, NY. Currently, she’s working on her second novel, which should be published in 2015. Though born and raised in North Dakota, MariLou now lives in Woodinville, WA with her husband Dan, a spoiled Golden Retriever, two domineering cats, and a loquacious parakeet.

SYNTHETIC WIGS heat friendly wigs clip-in bangs highlight wraps 10% off in stock wigs Follea certified

If you would like to become a writer for Girl on Fire Publishing, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area. We would appreciate sample writings or a rough draft of your first article to use for consideration. Not all submissions will be published.

COLOR HIGHLIGHTS PERMS CUTS STYLES HAIR CUSTOMIZATION REVITALIZE WIGS Jan Wunderlich, cosmetologist/owner Appointments Only

218-791-5553

2150 32 Ave South, Suite B Grand Forks, ND 58201

www.wigsgrandforks.com girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

7

Healthy & Fit

With experts from Altru Health System

Maximize Your Nutrition

This Winter –

Shop Frozen When writing your grocery list, don’t overlook the freezer section. The frozen food aisles offer many tasty options that are nutritious and affordable for every season.

Frozen Vegetables Tired of pale tomatoes and limp broccoli? Winter can be a difficult time to find high-quality, fresh produce. Although many winter vegetables are still cost-effective and nutritious, the frozen aisle is my preferred stop for wintertime produce. Frozen vegetables can be microwaved, steamed, or stir-fried as a colorful addition to your proteins and starches. Some of my favorite options include: ● Frozen peas with olive oil and an herbal seasoning (Herbes de Provence, Italian blend, or similar) ● Frozen corn sprinkled with garlic powder, black pepper, and a dash of salt ● Frozen, steamed broccoli with a light vinaigrette dressing ● Mixed vegetables microwaved according to package instructions and spritzed with oil and a salt-free steak seasoning like Mrs. Dash.

If cooking for one, you can pour a single serving into a steamer or microwave-safe bowl. Storing the unused, frozen portion is simple: Seal the bag with a clip, or transfer the contents to a sealable plastic bag to prevent freezer burn.

John Crist // Writer

If you would like to become a writer for Girl on Fire Publishing, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area. We would appreciate sample writings or a rough draft of your first article to use for consideration. Not all submissions will be published.

8

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

John Crist is a Registered Dietitian at Altru Health System.

He is especially interested in discussing strategies to create a healthy and positive relationship with food. In his free time, John enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and finding new ways to be active. Find John online at www. altru.org/crist.

Warning: Some bags of frozen vegetables have added sauces or seasonings. Check the nutrition label to make sure that the added fat and sodium isn’t excessive. Often, it’s simple to add your own low-sodium seasonings to taste and to complement the meal.

Frozen Fruits Similar to vegetables, frozen fruit offers more nutrition for less money during its off-season. For a quick and filling breakfast, try a Berry Nutty Smoothie (1 cup unsweetened soy milk + 1 cup frozen blueberries + 1 Tbsp. peanut butter + 1 tsp. honey), which is high in protein and antioxidants. You can also enjoy frozen fruit in any of my favorite ways: ● Microwave along with instant oatmeal ● Mix into plain yogurt and sprinkle with cinnamon ● Warm in the microwave and sprinkle with sweetener or chocolate chips for dessert Frozen (Healthy) Entrees Healthy, frozen entrees can be found in almost every grocery store. Whether you prefer more traditional tastes (Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine), or like to experiment with different flavors (Evol, Amy’s, Luvo, and Sweet Earth), a tasty meal that only takes minutes to prepare awaits.

Look for meals that offer the specific nutritional balance that you need: ● Calorie content: Meals should provide no more than one-third of your daily caloric goal. ● Protein: Meals with 15 grams of protein or more will keep you satisfied longer.

Along with strength training, adequate protein helps preserve muscle, providing countless benefits. ● Sodium: It’s an unavoidable part of processed foods, but even among the “healthy” brands is a surprising amount of variability in sodium content. Aim for no more than 650 mg. in your meal. ● Fiber: Meals with vegetables are more expensive, but worth it. To leave the table feeling satisfied, look for at least 3 grams of fiber. Some options, such as meals that include legumes, have as many as 11 grams. Increased fiber means you’ll feel more satisfied, and will also help lower your cholesterol.

With all the tasty options available in the freezer aisles, you’ll get through winter with a healthy immune system, a maintained or shrinking waistline, and perhaps new stand-by recipes to keep you and your family satisfied and nourished.

[GCW]

Introducing

Vera Bradley Eyewear

Exclusively at Lifetime Vision Center

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

9

Susan Nord A Modern Place to Live Written by Autumn Graber

Grand Forks interior designer, Susan Nord, has been sharing her talent with area home owners and the corporate world for twenty years. She has shared her passion for design with home owners who want to remodel their existing space or create a whole new space while building their dream home. Susan has also shared her keen sense for room layout and color with area business owners who are reinventing the work space for employees and customers.

When Susan was approached by Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors, LLC, the owners of The Boden, she knew that this would be a special opportunity to showcase her design skills in the Grand Forks area. “They wanted Scandinavian feeling with local flair,” said Susan. The direction given to Susan was to incorporate themes from North Dakota, Grand Forks, and the University of North Dakota into the student living environment that would soon be known as The Boden. Harbor Bay had worked with an architect in Minneapolis and had the

things, so I brought in a ton of different pillows to complement the sofas and artwork to complement the design style.”

main elements completed, but were looking for someone to bring in a local lifestyle design. “They had already picked the colors, and I had to bring in elements that would work with that.” For instance, the sofas in the community area were already chosen, so Susan accentuated them with lifestyle. “This generation likes mixing and matching 10 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

Susan worked with area photographers to create large murals along the hallway to bring the North Dakota outdoors inside The Boden. “When I saw the large, long hallways, I knew we had to come up with something that would add interest and warmth. I suggested the idea of outdoor images of North Dakota along with images of the University of North Dakota.” Over thirty images were chosen. “What makes this different is we put these images on wallpaper that range from anywhere from 4 feet by 7 feet to 12 feet by 7 feet. I believe first impressions are so important from the moment you enter The Boden; you see the beauty of North Dakota’s nature in a large image of grasslands.”

She also hired a writer to conceptualize a word wall that is displayed in the lobby.

“The words tie all the aspects of the original theme for The Boden together.” Phrases like, “You’re not just a number,” and words like “Pride,” “Tradition,” and “Exceptional” inadvertently inspire the residents of The Boden on a daily basis. Look close enough, and you will glimpse Scandinavian-inspired words like “uffda” as well.

Susan also added large plants to the common area to incorporate nature’s softness to the lobby.

“We love creating unique foliage for our clients; it adds so much to their living space.”

To market the apartments in The Boden during its construction phase, Susan designed a model apartment that is displayed at Oxford Realty in Grand Forks, The Boden’s leasing company. “I always think of the clientele and their lifestyle for inspiration,” said Susan. A Dalmatian photo inspired a black and white design for a collegeaged audience. “We chose fun colors, along with UND merchandise, to help the future student tenant see themselves living there.”

Your Mom TREAT

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8

Additional

10% 3901 32nd Ave S, Grand Forks

701-772-1861

The Boden promotes itself as premier student living located next to the University of North Dakota. The word “Boden,” is a noun referencing a modern place to live that gives nod to its Nordic heritage and roots. Students that live at The Boden experience a lifestyle specifically designed for them. The apartments are fully furnished with beds, desks, dressers, flat screen televisions, and sofas, to name a few things. The Clubroom Lounge includes a fireplace, billiards, shuffle board, televisions, and work stations. The facility also includes a fitness room and outdoor patio.

While The Boden is a commercial setting, those of you who know Susan recognize that she excels in residential settings as well. Residential client, Sharon Loiland says that she would recommend Susan for any project. “Susan Nord is excellent. She is a top notch artist and designer.

She takes the time to understand your tastes and budget. Everyone walks into our house and says, ‘Wow, this looks amazing.’” [GCW]

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

11

The Solution for Aging Skin When you look in the mirror, do you appear tired or run down? Or, perhaps you have developed a deep line between your eyebrows, making you appear as if constantly frowning? We all want to look and feel our best, but sometimes, even with an excellent skin care routine and a healthy lifestyle, the aging process can diminish our hard work.

Luckily, whether it is crow’s feet, frown lines, a look of sleep deprivation, or whatever else frustrates you about your appearance, the professional staff at Truyu Aesthetic Center can help with a variety of treatment options.

Aging Skin Facial maturing is a continuous process.

It begins in your 20s and progressively advances due to physiologic changes in the skin and underlying tissue. Aging skin is most noticeable in the face and neck where personal and environmental factors—such as sun exposure, smoking, and changes in weight—can accelerate this process.

During the aging process, the general outline of your face changes from a triangle, with the apex pointing downward, to a rectangle.

This is mostly due to the sagging of skin and a descent of the cheeks’ soft tissue. These changes are a result of loss of volume and elastin in the skin, creating a predictable course of facial aging with maturing skin.

The following outline common facial changes that occur at certain ages.

30-40 Years Old » Crow’s feet in the outer corners of eyes, frown lines in the forehead » Loss of fat tissue under the eyes, causing dark shadows » Deepening of the nasolabial folds (smile lines that run from the corners of your nose to the sides of your mouth) 40-50 Years Old » Appearance of lower eyelid bags and glabellar lines (vertical

If you would like to become a writer for Girl on Fire Publishing, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area. We would appreciate sample writings or a rough draft of your first article to use for consideration. Not all submissions will be published.

12 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

lines between the eyebrows) » Drooping of the outer sides of the eyebrows » Loss of fat tissue in the cheeks and the temple area » Platysmal banding appears in the neck (known as “turkey neck”) » Creping around the eyes and lines around the lips » Appearance of marionette lines (the crease from the corners of your mouth to your chin) » Pigment changes (age spots, freckles) » Vascular changes including dilated superficial blood vessels on the cheeks, nose, and chin 50-60 Years Old » Drooping of the eyebrows, creating a hooded appearance » Thinning of the lips » Appearance of neck wrinkles and jowls 60-70 Years Old » Skin atrophy and substantial loss of underlying tissue components including fat tissue, collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid

Kelly Stauss Carlson & Jennifer Laframboise // Writers

Truyu Aesthetic Center is a state-of-the-art facility with the most experienced medical staff in the surrounding region, providing a multitude of services for facial rejuvenation. Our comprehensive offerings include cosmetic surgery, dermatology, injectables, and laser rejuvenation. Yvonne Gomez, MD, Kelly Stauss Carlson, FNP-C, and Jennifer Laframboise, FNP-C have over 30 years of combined experience with Botox and dermal fillers. Please call us at 701-780-6623 to schedule a complimentary and personalized consultation.

Finding a Solution Botox and Dermal fillers are commonlyused treatments for facial rejuvenation.

These treatments revitalize your skin and expressions, restoring a more youthful appearance with significant improvements in mild to moderate facial lines and wrinkles.

Botox: A Solution for “Angry Face” Botox is most often used to reduce forehead lines, frown lines between your eyebrows (glabellar lines), crow’s feet, and perioral lip lines. Patients often complain of that dreaded line between their eyebrows by saying, “I see pictures of myself and I always look mad,” or “My kids tell me I look angry all of the time.” Thankfully, Botox can help restore a more pleasant expression that matches your mood. Botox targets one of the underlying causes of frown lines and crow’s feet—the repeated muscle contractions from frowning and squinting over the years. Your provider will inject these muscles with Botox to temporarily reduce muscle activity. Afterward, you will begin to notice a visible smoothing of the crow’s feet lines and frown lines between your brows. Additionally, Botox can be used to achieve a slight eyebrow lift to open up your eyes. The effects of Botox will typically last approximately 3 months. The recommendation is to be injected every 3 months to maintain the best results.

Minot: 701-420-3905 Hwy. 83 S. / US Hwy. 2 Bypass

Grand Forks: 701-795-3600 1508 N. Washington St.

Dermal Fillers: Restore Volume and Re-capture Youth Dermal fillers replace lost volume, creating a more youthful appearance. Your Truyu provider can replace volume in the cheeks, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and lines around the mouth. Dermal fillers can even restore volume in your lips. We offer a multitude of different types of dermal fillers, allowing our experienced staff to choose the best product for each individual based on treatment goals and location where the filler is placed. Dermal fillers are expected to last anywhere from 1-2 years depending on the type of filler used and where on the face it is injected.

If you are skeptical of these procedures, we invite you to schedule a consultation with one of our experts to talk through your concerns and find the best solution for your individual needs. Though Botox and dermal fillers offer great solutions for aging skin on the face, we can also offer a more conservative approach, with corrective facials, skin care products, and beyond. We also have two highly-experienced, board-certified cosmetic surgeons on staff, Drs. Muiderman and McMullin, who can offer solutions for more advanced care and full-body surgical options. [GCW] girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

13

Two Ways to Create Success and Fulfillment in Your Life Written by Ashley Rae

Each of us is fully capable of creating our own success and fulfillment in life. However, that perspective is one that many people have difficulty realizing. This is because, over time, society has programmed into our brains a false notion of what success and fulfillment are actually supposed to look and feel like.

The simple truth is that you, and only you, can create success and fulfillment in your life, and you do this by living with purpose and passion. What follows are a few simple tips on how you can do just that.

Purpose: Discover Your True Calling Increasingly, more people are talking about the need to find purpose in life and to live according to that purpose. I am one of those people who not only talks about it, but have built a life around helping people find their purpose. Finding one’s purpose and helping others achieve that goal matters; it matters deeply, for both women and men.

Society has reduced the idea of purpose and success to a checklist and an invisible timeline of achievements: graduate from school, find a job, find a lifepartner, get married, buy a house, have kids, make more money, buy a bigger house, buy a newer car, and the list goes on. This well-worn path of societal expectations holds people to an incorrect ideal of purpose and success, pushing people in the direction of conformity, rather than an individualized, true purpose.

The first step to creating success is to find your true purpose. In other words, what is the reason, or reasons, for being here? What is your true calling?

Your calling shapes you and will help you grow into the person you were born to be. Discovering your purpose, and living according to that purpose, is a process of self-discovery. This process can help reveal who you really are so you can live authentically and with purpose.

Ashley Rae // Writer

If you would like to become a writer for Girl on Fire Publishing, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area. We would appreciate sample writings or a rough draft of your first article to use for consideration. Not all submissions will be published.

14 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

Ashley Rae, owner of Brand Logic, is a dynamic combination of Professional Coach, Personal Mentor, and Motivational Speaker. One of Ashley’s primary purposes in life is to teach women how to create Success and Fulfillment by helping them live with Purpose and Passion, professionally and personally.

Unlocking one’s purpose isn’t always easy, but rather an intimate process that requires effort, a path that most people never traverse. Rather, some settle for conformity and continue living according to a set of standards that aren’t their own.

Women especially share a universal longing to live with passion. We want to invest our time and energy in pursuits that are important to us. The question therefore remains: How do we live passionately so we can create that ever-desired sense of fulfillment?

Therefore, the second step in creating success is to define your idea of success based on your purpose and calling.

Disregard other people’s definitions of success, and don’t compare your life to theirs; their purpose and calling is different than yours. Live according to your purpose and your calling. When you move toward your calling instead of away from it, your energy shifts, and synchronicity has a chance to flow.

Start by thinking about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Focusing on the why is the key to living with passion, which will ultimately create fulfillment.

Thinking back to the prescriptive checkboxes and invisible timeline, many of us can probably admit to having chosen careers or certain life paths based on societal expectations, rather than our passions. We focused more on what we were doing, rather than why we were doing it. For this reason, most will live a life never knowing true purpose, or will perhaps sense it but eventually give up.

For those of you wanting to find, or redefine, your true purpose and calling, think about this: Your purpose isn’t as much about what you do, but rather why you do it.

Passion: Focus on the Why, Not the What The first step to creating fulfillment in your life is to live passionately. Your passion is as personal as a fingerprint.

No one can force it on you; it’s the thing, or things, that really matter to you. Without passion, life seems meaningless and mundane, and people end up experiencing an emotionless life, existing day-to-day as if robots.

Each of us is fully capable of creating success and fulfillment by living with purpose and passion. It is up to us to reprogram our brains from society’s expectations and live according to our deeper, more meaningful, standards.

[GCW]

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

15

Safe Kids Corner

Parenting: The Most Important Job You Will Have Written by Carma Hanson

Nearly twenty four years ago, my daughter, the first of two children, was born. At the time, I already had achieved four years of college and had been working as a nurse for nearly four years as well. Nothing, however, compared to the remarkable day when I was able to take our daughter home and start my journey as a parent.

Often, I have said that, “Being a parent is the most important job I will ever have, and yet it comes with the least amount of orientation.” While growing up, I had great parents and many role models in my life, but when the nurses handed me that tiny baby, it was an eye-opener.

My husband and I were now responsible for all the things parents do: making sure she was fed, teaching her life skills, bringing her up in a faith community, and assuring her safety.

Currently, many excellent resources are available for new parents. However, just when you think you have this whole “parenting thing” mastered, something else comes along that completely throws you off balance. Safety risks was one of those issues for me. While most parents are aware of the need for car seats in motor vehicles, bike helmets when riding a bike, and life jackets for water activities, this

new and emerging topic in this edition of Safe Kids Corner might catch some of you off guard.

In recent years, the popularity of electronic cigarettes has grown. E-cigarettes are currently readily available in homes, purses, and cars—items adults use and places where adults spend the most time. These devices are causing a real danger to young children in the form of poisoning incidents. Electronic cigarettes are inhaled in a vapor form, which is created when liquid nicotine is heated inside the cigarette. The liquid that is put into the electronic cigarette contains nicotine in varying levels based on the number of cigarettes the user is accustomed to smoking.

This “e-liquid” is sold in a variety of flavors, often ones that are intriguing to young children. The flavors include watermelon, mint, “skittleberry,” cotton candy, and other fruity or candy flavors. E-liquid not only smells of these flavors, but tastes like it too, making it attractive to young children.

Carma Hanson, MS, RN, Safe Kids Grand Forks/Altru Health System Coordinator // Writer If you would like to become a writer for Girl on Fire Publishing, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area. We would appreciate sample writings or a rough draft of your first article to use for consideration. Not all submissions will be published.

16 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

Safe Kids Grand Forks is an injury prevention coalition whose mission is to prevent unintentional injuries and death to children. Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks. To learn more about our program or for other safety tips, go to our website at www.safekidsgf.com or “like” us on Facebook at Safe Kids Grand Forks. You can also send an email to safekids@altru.org. Safe Kids Grand Forks is keeping kids safe at home, at school, at play, and on the way!

Parents and caregivers don’t often realize that one teaspoon of eliquid contains enough nicotine to harm and kill a young child. While it would take a child eating almost two packages of cigarettes to have this same effect, a small dose of liquid nicotine can cause major problems. E-liquid does not have to be inhaled either; it can be absorbed by swallowing it or by being on the skin. If a child were to spill the liquid on his or her pajamas and then go to sleep, the body could absorb it and cause nicotine overdose and/or death.

- Know that products such as these are illegal for teens to use, but are clearly being marketed to them. Assure that other youth in the home (siblings, babysitters, etc.) do not have these items in places where younger children can access them.

Over the past several years, calls to Poison Control Centers have risen drastically because these devices have become increasingly popular. It is imperative that parents and caregivers are aware of these dangers and follow these tips to keep children safe:

Safe Kids Grand Forks works hard to help parents and caregivers stay on top of safety areas that have been around for many years and others that are emerging trends. Educating parents, caregivers, and children is important. One way that we connect with all of these populations is to host our annual Safe Kids Day event. This year, it will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Century Elementary School (new venue from previous years). The day features over 20 activity stations on various injury risk areas where parents can receive safety tips and speak with local experts. Kids can engage in interactive games and activities to teach them about dangers at home, at school, at play, and “on the way.” We hope you will bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors, or young ones that you love out to this year’s event. It is FREE and there will be lots of activities and prizes. We hope to see you there and want to be a part of making that most important job of parenting a little easier (and fun too)!

- Keep all cigarettes—especially electronic ones—up and out of children’s reach. Do not store them in places—such as a purse or backpack—that children might have access to.

- Assure that electronic cigarettes are kept out of reach while charging. The charger resembles that of a phone charger and could be enticing to children.

- Ensure that liquid nicotine is kept in the childproof container in which it was dispensed (ND and MN recently passed a state law requiring that it be sold this way to prevent children from opening the bottles).

- Teach children about the dangers of these products and avoid using the devices around them.

- Keep the local Poison Control Center number handy (1-800222-1222) and call immediately if you think a child has swallowed, inhaled, or touched liquid nicotine.

To learn more tips to keep kids safe, go to www.SafeKidsGF.com or “like” us on Facebook. Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks. To contact us, send an e-mail to safekids@altru.org or call 701-780-1489. Together, we can keep kids safe at Home, at School, at Play, and On the Way! [GCW] girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

17

Today… from Yesterday to Tomorrow Written by Carey Leichter

How do we improve ourselves, grow as individuals and take time for self-care? It’s more than just a work-life balance.

Most of us want to learn more and become better versions of ourselves. Though knowing where we want to go, what to achieve, how to look and feel, how do we know who we are?

Children are asked what they want to be when they grow up. Do you know what you want to be?

How much time do we spend defining ourselves? Have you reached an age or period in your life in which you feel it’s time to redefine who you are? Are you spending time learning and improving your body and mind?

Many face an issue with time management, particularly regarding existing responsibilities… like work, family, and children. These time-consuming responsibilities make it difficult to achieve that work-life balance and make our dreams happen. Striving for change, reaching a new goal, or defining a new and improved self are arduous tasks for those trying to balance personal and professional growth without neglecting time spent with family.

Instead of focusing on the time, energy, and commitment needed for self-improvement, reflect on where you have been. Look to the past to better determine where you are going. A person cannot improve without knowing where she has been. The past helps to ground you; it provides a

point from where to begin. It’s somewhere along this timeline that you can begin to measure how far you have come, how much you’ve accomplished, and how far you want to continue on that path.

People are often asked to label “before” pictures to contrast with images representing a final achievement. This raises the question that, in exploring what “before” pictures represent, are we creating unattainable or unrealistic goals contrary to our readiness for change? For some, “before” pictures represent hope and the desire for positive change, whereas “after” pictures represent achievement, the pinnacle from which new goals must be made to sustain the process.

But perhaps focusing on the present and the process is best. In documenting the present, the “before” and “after” aren’t prematurely assigned, rather a person can just enjoy the process of achieving the goals.

Just as most of us actively seek tools, tips, tricks, and techniques to help with self-improvement, we want to give the same opportunities for our children to learn and improve. But, we do not have to better ourselves first to become better parents or mentors. We can do this with our children—a process in the present.

In doing so, we teach children through example to be in the present, how to reflect on the past, and how examin-

Carey Leichter // Writer

If you would like to become a writer for Girl on Fire Publishing, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area. We would appreciate sample writings or a rough draft of your first article to use for consideration. Not all submissions will be published.

18 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

As the mother of five children, and the Director of Grand Forks Montessori Academy, Carey has spent more than a decade analyzing and preparing children’s environments while providing inspiration for learning and critical thinking following the Montessori philosophy. She is available for speaking engagements and consultation in the development and preparation of Montessori-inspired environments.

ing our accomplishments, and measuring progress, helps us to work towards our goals and dreams for the future.

Working toward achieving goals and dreams involves reflecting on the past, being in the present, examining accomplishments, and measuring progress for the future. If you have children, sharing these concepts will help them achieve goals in a healthy, productive manner.

Reflecting on the Past Building a portfolio creates an opportunity to reflect on achievement. It’s a shift in vantage point, encouraging you to focus on building self-esteem rather than concentrating on goals not yet achieved.

This perspective positions you to measure achievement in a tangible way. The past is about results.

Gather old pictures, letters, writings, drawings, certificates, and so on that represent your past. Review old diaries, journals, scrapbooks, or photo albums. It’s the time for assessing accomplishments, measuring successes, and building self-esteem during this time of reflection.

Look how far you have come. This is a great technique to share with children. Rather than focusing on what they should be achieving, show them what they have achieved so far.

Being in the Present Measurements can be changed. Obsessing about weight or body measurements might be counterproductive to reaching goals.

Whether the goal is for better health, a smaller waistline, improved blood chemistry, or increasing knowledge through learning, the goal to become “better” should be measured by our own values rather than by society. Rather than obsessing on these measurements, it’s better to take a step back and enjoy the now—the process it takes to achieve the goal.

Whether journaling, taking selfies, working, or spending time with family, this is the time to be fully engaged in each process. No need to feel guilty for what you are doing now if you love what you are doing. If you don’t love it, or do not see a purpose in it, then it is time to ask yourself: What do I want to be?

The Future Harnessing dreams and goals is achieved by converting them to actions and choosing now—the present— to task yourself with the process of attaining success. The future lies within the now. We create our futures only at this moment.

What are you doing at this moment? [GCW]

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

19

Andrea Volk FIND YOUR VOICE 20 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

Written by Autumn Graber // Studio Photography Submitted Courtesy of SB Photography // Candid Photography Submitted

As a child, Andrea would never take the word “no” for an answer. She already knew at the age of five that she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. Most children continuously change their minds about what they want to be when they grow up, so much that their parents’ heads would proverbially spin. Children can fluctuate between wanting to be an astronaut to a professional baseball player in one day; so when Andrea announced at five years old that she wanted to be a dolphin trainer, it didn’t seem farfetched for a young girl. However, when a teenaged Andrea attended career fairs in school and still maintained her desire to be a dolphin trainer, those around her began to take her seriously. When Andrea turned 18 years old, her parents sent her to the University of Miami to earn a degree in marine biology. After her freshman year, Andrea secured an internship with the Dolphins Plus tourist attraction in Key Largo, Florida. That internship quickly turned into a full time job as a dolphin trainer. Andrea’s dream came true.

On one side of the facility where Andrea worked was an area for tourists (Dolphins Plus), but the other side housed an assisted therapy program (Island Dolphin Care), where children from all over the world could come and participate in animal therapy. The therapy program was frequently used by children participating in the MakeA-Wish® foundation, which helped them fulfil their lifelong dreams of swimming with dolphins. For children with disabilities who participated in the program, the dolphins would encourage apprehensive children to enter the water to pet them. It was a form of therapy even though the child might not have realized it. “I got to see so many kids with different needs from all over the world,” said Andrea. “It was absolutely amazing.” girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

21

As a dolphin trainer, Andrea was in charge of two dolphins named Bob and Cosmo, which meant she would swim with them every day. She even loved to come in on her days off to check on them. “The relationship I was able to build with them was so rewarding. They were like my kids,” she smiled.

Although Andrea had a great love for dolphins, a love of something or someone else was greater. She married a North Dakota boy and moved back north after four years as a dolphin trainer. Andrea and her husband resettled in the Minneapolis area, where she stumbled on to her next career choice after a high school friend was assaulted in downtown Minneapolis and ended up in a coma. “We were a super close high school class, and we were up there every day to visit Brady,” said Andrea. “I started to get to know his occupational therapist, his speech therapist, and watching the job that they had to get him talking again.” Her new career path now realized, Andrea went back to school at the University of Minnesota for speech pathology.

After graduating with a Master’s in Speech Pathology, Andrea and her husband moved back to the Grand Forks area for his job with Cabela’s in East Grand Forks. Andrea was hired by Anne Carlsen Center, where she was able to work with a team of therapists from occupational therapy to physical therapy. “It was an amazing experience, and I don’t know where I would be without it.” After working for the Anne Carlsen Center for four years, Andrea was looking for a little more flexibility and autonomy.

In 2013, Andrea opened Quotable Kids Speech and Language Clinic, providing pediatric speech-language therapy services in North Dakota and Minnesota. “I’m a risk taker but I don’t always look at everything that I should. I took a huge leap of faith. My husband asked me, ‘Did you just quit your job?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m pretty sure I did.’”

Andrea knew there was a need for another pediatric speech clinic in the area because she knew how many kids were on waiting lists for services. She saw the need and Pictured: Maura Tanabe and Andrea Volk wanted to fill the gap. “I’m so thankful my husband trusted me and pushed me along the way.”

“What is so exciting about this career is that it is different every session.” Andrea and her team, which is comprised of three full-time speech-language pathologists covering three clinic locations (Grand Forks, Grafton, Thief River Falls), take an eclectic approach to each session. Andrea shared she feels “blessed to have an amazing team at Quotable Kids. Kristin Ziegelmann, Chelsey Kjono, and I all value being of service to others. We are not a team because we work together.

We are a team because we respect, trust, and care for each other.”

At the end of the day, it’s not about what she personally accomplished in a day…it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve helped, and the

22 girlonfireonline.com February 2016

difference you made in their life. Each time a child has a session with Andrea, she needs to keep them motivated, which means that each session needs a new or different component. She likes to keep them guessing because that helps the children remain excited about their therapy sessions. One child needs to work on following directions, so Andrea found a craft where he makes his own superheroes with plastic molds. The boy is tasked with following the directions that Andrea has prepared for him. It’s an activity he loves and helps develop his ability to follow directions.

Another child Andrea works with is a 16 year-old boy who is nonverbal.

He recently received a device that they have affectionately dubbed, “the talker.” “What is so cool is that it is giving him a voice. He walks in here [presses a few buttons and says], “Hello Andrea.’” The child, who was diagnosed with severe autism at an early age, uses the device to communicate with everyone from ordering a meal at a restaurant to saying, “Good morning” or “I love you” to his parents. “I get the chills every time.

He now, after so many years, has this ability that he can talk.” When the boy was diagnosed, doctors told his parents he might have some words, but they would be limited. Now, with this device, he has added more words to his vocabulary than they had expected. “Think of how brave this teenager is. It has to be uneasy going into a room full of people [who are] all talking to him. He has to learn to navigate his device and think, ‘What should I say?’ He is incredibly inspiring and brave,” she said.

Each child’s therapy in Andrea’s clinic varies depending on his or her needs. When children in her therapy programs reach their goals, and Andrea feels they are at an appropriate level for their age, they are able to graduate. “They wear a graduation hat, we play Pomp and Circumstance, and they get cupcakes and a little gift. We make it a big celebration.”

Creating an Inspired Design with

Personality

Residential & Commercial Interior Design Specializing in Redesign

218-791-3235 sdnord@gmail.com susannorddesigns.com

Color // Custom Fabrics // Window Treatments // Rugs // Custom Bedding // Artwork // Accessories In addition to working on speech and language therapy with her patients, Andrea began partnering with psychologist Dr. Maura Tanabe, PhD, to form a social thinking group for early elementary-aged children with special needs called Friendship Club and a teen group called Teens Excited About Mingling (TEAM) in the Grand Forks area.

In the Friendship Club, they work with young children on making new friends or processing feelings. The group gets together at the clinic on a weekly basis.

TEAM meets once a month and volunteers their time to local organizations six times a year. Additionally, the group participates in a fun social event six times a year. “In December, we went to the Northlands Rescue Mission and we worked in the Rescued Treasures store. It was a great experience for the kids.” The teens unpacked clothing donations and organized them for placement in the store. Children with Down syndrome and Autism benefit from community fundraisers, so Andrea sees an advantage to teaching these kids about giving back to their community. “It is important to Maura and I that we give the teenagers opportunities where they can succeed and learn confidence in a social setting, but also it is important that we teach them about doing things for others in the community.”

For fun, the kids have gone to an area restaurant together and worked on table etiquette. They have also attended spin classes at Choice Health and Fitness to learn about the benefits of working out and cleaning the equipment that they have used.

Andrea wants to make her therapy sessions and group outings fun and motivational. “I’ve never been a flash card therapist; I don’t even use them,” she jokes. “I walk away from every session wondering if I’ve made a difference.” Based on the success of her patients, it is safe to say that she makes an impact. Just like everyone else, children with special needs have hopes and dreams. “You want them, so badly, to get where they want to go. They have hopes. They have dreams. They want to get there too.”

Andrea wants to make a difference in the lives of the children she serves. She hopes to help them smile every day. “I take the time to get to know each individual child, find their interests, and then plan treatment goals around their interests and what motivates them.” If you were to meet the children Andrea has the pleasure of knowing, you would understand why she does what she does. She feels it is her passion and purpose in life. “It is my honor to serve them and offer them the ability to find their voice and learn to communicate.” [GCW]

The TEAM group is always looking for other community organizations where they can provide volunteer services. If you would like the group to volunteer for your organization, contact Andrea at Quotable Kids Speech and Language Clinic by calling 701-739-5437.

girlonfireonline.com

February 2016

23

24 girlonfireonline.com February 2016